December 2009


	Sapience Home Site Map About Sapience History Modern History 20th Century Early 21st century Late 2000s 2009 Fourth quarter 2009 2009 Week 49 2009 Week 50 2009 Week 51 2009 Week 52 2009 Week 53

Pope Benedict XVI was knocked down by an attacker during a procession before the Christmas Eve Mass. The Murphy report on sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy in Ireland continued to draw criticism of the church. The Treaty of Lisbon entered into force and the European Union began operation, succeding the European Community. A UN Climate Change Conference in Copehagen took place but was inconclusive. Recovery from the global financial crisis was slow. Controversy over the origins and justification of the 2003 invasion of Iraq continued.

2009 Week 49 (Dec 1-5)

2009 Week 50 (Dec 6-12)

2009 Week 51 (Dec 13-19)

2009 Week 52 (Dec 20-36)

2009 Week 53 (Dec 27-31)


Other history This is weakly connected to earlier history through classical and medieval times. It is preceded by modern times through the 20th century. It is weakly connected to the early 2000s. It is weakly connected the late 2000s through 2008. It is somewhat connected to 2009 through the third quarter 2009. Within the fourth quarter 2009, it is immediately preceded by November 2009. It is followed by events of 2010, including the first quarter 2010 and January 2010. This is later followed by the future, specifically the near future including next month down to January 2010 and will be followed by next quarter and next year. It will be then followed by the middle future and far future.	Links to other sites Note: Section beginning with Content is adapted from 2009- Wikipedia More details are given in Dec 2009- Wikipedia
Sociology As with history in general, modern history, the 20th century, the early 21st century, the late 2000s, 2009, and the fourth quarter 2009, the examination of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change gives weight and substance to events of December 2009. Institutions As with history in general, modern history, the 20th century, the early 21st century, the late 2000s, 2009, and the fourth quarter 2009, Religion, government, economics, education, and families are essential to the examination of events of December 2009. Culture Behavioral culture, conceptual culture, and material culture can be applied to the examination of events of December 2009. Behavioral culture including occupations and customs can be connected. 1 Dec 2009 - U.S. golfer Tiger Woods announced that he would not be attending his own charity golf tournament, the Chevron World Challenge, or any other tournaments in 2009. 2 Dec 2009 - Cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs provided evidence to reporters that she had an affair with golf legend Tiger Woods 5 Dec 2009 - CNN issued an apology to The Irish Times after accusing the newspaper of publishing fake nude photographs of the world's number one golfer Tiger Woods. CNN also alleged The Irish Times had paid damages as a result. 8 Dec 2009 - For the second time in as many years, CBS canceled a United States-produced soap opera, this time As the World Turns after 54 years, in effect putting Procter & Gamble, the creators of said genre, out of that business. 8 Dec 2009 - Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo, the world's first commercial spacecraft, was officially unveiled in the Mojave Desert, California. 10 Dec 2009 - U.S. President Barack Obama accepted the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway. 12 Dec 2009 - Golfer Tiger Woods announced he was taking an indefinite break from the sport after a scandal over his infidelity in order to focus on "being a better husband, father, and person". 13 Dec 2009 - Global consulting firm Accenture and multinational corporation Procter & Gamble ended their endorsement deals with golfer Tiger Woods following a marital infidelity controversy. 16 Dec 2009 - Roy E. Disney, head of Disney Animation and responsible for guiding the studio through a golden age of animation, died in a California hospital in the United States. 19 Dec 2009 - The North American blizzard of 2009 produced record snowfall, causing power outages, deaths, and impacting retail sales. 20 Dec 2009 - American band Rage Against the Machine topped the UK Christmas Singles Chart with 1992 song "Killing in the Name". Its popularity arose from an internet campaign to prevent X Factor winner Joe McElderry from topping the charts. (CNN) Cultural events including holidays, gatherings, disasters, and miscellanous events can be connected. 17 Dec 2009 - Europe was hit by heavy snowfall leading to disruptions in France, Germany, Poland and Spain. 21 Dec 2009 - Two firefighters were hurt fighting a fire as St. James's Gate Brewery was engulfed by flames which send clouds of smoke across Dublin. 25 Dec 2009 - The 19th century St Mel's Cathedral of Longford in Ireland was destroyed by an ongoing fire in the town. 18 Dec 2009 - The BBC apologised for offence caused when it used the headline: "Should homosexuals face execution?" 18 Dec 2009 - Snowfall across the east of England disrupted transport and power supplies. 19 Dec 2009 - Freezing conditions caused electrical faults in the Channel Tunnel between Great Britain and France, isolating 2,000 passengers in five trains. The situation was coupled with disruptions at London Heathrow Airport and traffic delays due to snowy conditions in the south-east of England. 20 Dec 2009 - Snowfall disrupted transport services and killed at least 18 people across Europe. 21 Dec 2009 - Eurostar was suspended indefinitely due to the heavy snowfall affecting continental Europe. 21 Dec 2009 - Mister Bolivia won Mister International 2009 at the end of the two-week event in Taiwan. 22 Dec 2009 - Eurostar finally resumed services after three days of continent-wide weather-related outages. 25 Dec 2009 - Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom remembered the dead soldiers of Afghanistan in the Royal Christmas Message. 25 Dec 2009 - Six Filipino sailors and three Greek officers are missing after fire engulfs a ship in an incident off the coast of Venezuela. 26 Dec 2009 - It was confirmed that all nine missing crew members — six Filipinos and three Greeks — from yesterday's ship fire disaster off the coast of Venezuela were dead. 28 Dec 2009 - One woman died and at least 18 people were injured after a bus overturned in Gorey, Ireland. An ambulance also overturned. 30 Dec 2009 - Two people were found dead following three separate avalanches in Scotland, while a third person who was rescued died later in hospital. Recreation and entertainment including sports, games, theater, music, and dance can be connected. 2 Dec 2009 - FIFA, the world governing body for association football, announced after an emergency session of their Executive Committee, that following the controversy over the Thierry Henry handball incident, it would set up an inquiry into the use of extra officials or technology, but any changes will not be implemented for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. 7 Dec 2009 - Pakistan’s Raffatullah Momand and Aamer Sajjad set a new world record for a second wicket partnership scoring 580 runs in a first-class Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match, breaking the previous record of 576 held by Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama. 7 Dec 2009 - The English town of Swindon became the first ever Twin Town of Walt Disney World in the U.S. state of Florida. 19 Dec 2009 - In association football, FC Barcelona set a new record by winning all 6 possible competitions (The Sextuple) in one year. 31 Dec 2009 - Van Morrison told RTÉ News at One that a baby his own website claimed he has fathered does not exist and that he has never met the alleged mother. 31 Dec 2009 - Patrick Stewart, the actor who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor X in X-Men, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Conceptal culture including philosophy, applied science, mathematics, literature, graphic arts, and language can be considered. 18 Dec 2009 - After 27 years, Terry Wogan presented his last edition of Wake Up to Wogan on BBC Radio 2, receiving farewell messages from Gordon Brown and David Cameron. Material culture including miscellaneous artifacts, Communications technology, transportation technology, Clothing and dress, foodstuffs, building technology, and industrial technology can be connected. 8 Dec 2009 - Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo, the world's first commercial spacecraft, was officially unveiled in the Mojave Desert, California. 14 Dec 2009 - TeliaSonera opened the world's first 4G LTE cellular network for public in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden. 15 Dec 2009 - The Boeing 787 'Dreamliner' widebody passenger airliner took its maiden flight, travelling from Paine Field to Boeing Field, in Washington State, U.S.A. 18 Dec 2009 - General Motors announced that it would begin shutting down operations at the Swedish carmaker Saab automobile. Anthropology 19 Dec 2009 - The North American blizzard of 2009 produced record snowfall, causing power outages, deaths, and impacting retail sales. Particular groups can be considered. Human geography including Asian geography, European geography, African geography, North American geography, South american geography, and Oceanic geography can be connected. Human ecology including human effects on the environment, relations with other life, and environmental effects on people can be connected. Physical anthropology including human dispersion, racial variation, and human origins can be connected. Demography including population change, population size and structure, deaths, migration, and births can be connected. Social foundations including social group behavior, social group types, social control, social interaction, and social presentation can be connected. Personal studies Biography can be connected. 5 Dec 2009 - Six doctors in the United Kingdom were taking legal action to demand a formal inquest into the death of government scientist David Christopher Kelly. 6 Dec 2009 - Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom firmly warned newspaper editors in a letter to cease publication of personal pictures of the British Royal Family after years of being "hounded" by paparazzi. 25 Dec 2009 - Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom remembered the dead soldiers of Afghanistan in the Royal Christmas Message. 31 Dec 2009 - Patrick Stewart, the actor who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor X in X-Men, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. 9 Dec 2009 - British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling delivered the pre Budget report, with tax rises and spending cuts to reduce the government debt. 13 Dec 2009 - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair stated in an interview that he would have gone to war in Iraq even if he had known that it had no weapons of mass destruction. 18 Dec 2009 - In a reversal of a previous decision, Sir John Chilcot insisted that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would give the majority of his evidence to The Iraq Inquiry in public. 13 Dec 2009 - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan to support British forces deployed as part of the International Security Assistance Force and to hold talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. 18 Dec 2009 - After 27 years, Terry Wogan presented his last edition of Wake Up to Wogan on BBC Radio 2, receiving farewell messages from Gordon Brown and David Cameron. 31 Dec 2009 - The University of Cambridge successfully acquired a collection of Siegfried Sassoon's personal papers for £1.25 million, following a six-month fundraising campaign. 31 Dec 2009 - Patrick Stewart, the actor who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor X in X-Men, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. 5 Dec 2009 - Irish Independent Member of Parliament Noel Grealish withdrew his support for the country's government over the issue of pay cuts in the public sector. The move reduced the administration of Taoiseach Brian Cowen to a minority government. 7 Dec 2009 - Bishop Dermot O'Mahony resigned as patron of The Irish Pilgrimage Trust after his response to child sexual abuse was described as "worse than that of any other living auxiliary bishop of Dublin". 9 Dec 2009 - Irish Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan delivered the nation's Budget for 2010. 17 Dec 2009 - Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray resigned following allegations contained within the Murphy Report. The Vatican accepted his resignation. 18 Dec 2009 - Irish priest Father Seán Sheehy withdrew from work in his parish of Castlegregory over a controversy which followed his shaking the hand of a convicted sex offender in court days earlier. Bishop of Kerry William Murphy disassociated himself from Sheehy and his actions. 20 Dec 2009 - Gerry Adams, in an interview with RTÉ, spoke for the first time about the abuse his father inflicted on his family. 22 Dec 2009 - It was revealed that the fugitive brother of Gerry Adams had been located in County Sligo after the politician appealed for him to make his whereabouts known. 23 Dec 2009 - Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Jim Moriarty resigned, the second bishop to do so following the publication of the Murphy Report. 25 Dec 2009 - Two more bishops — Eamonn Oliver Walsh and Raymond Field — resigned due to child sex abuse allegations contained within the Murphy Report. They were Dublin's only remaining two serving auxiliary bishops. 28 Dec 2009 - Ireland's most senior Cardinal, Cahal Daly, was reported to be "seriously ill" in hospital. 31 Dec 2009 - Former Catholic Primate of All Ireland Cardinal Cahal Daly, "the hierarchy's foremost theologian and its most trenchant critic of politically-inspired violence", died in Belfast aged 92. 31 Dec 2009 - Van Morrison told RTÉ News at One that a baby his own website claimed he has fathered does not exist and that he has never met the alleged mother. 7 Dec 2009 - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates admitted that the United States has had no information on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden for many years. 1 Dec 2009 - U.S. President Barack Obama announced that he would send 30,000 extra American troops to Afghanistan within the next six months and start withdrawal in 19 months. 1 Dec 2009 - U.S. golfer Tiger Woods announced that he would not be attending his own charity golf tournament, the Chevron World Challenge, or any other tournaments in 2009. 2 Dec 2009 - Cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs provided evidence to reporters that she had an affair with golf legend Tiger Woods 5 Dec 2009 - CNN issued an apology to The Irish Times after accusing the newspaper of publishing fake nude photographs of the world's number one golfer Tiger Woods. CNN also alleged The Irish Times had paid damages as a result. 10 Dec 2009 - U.S. President Barack Obama accepted the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway. 11 Dec 2009 - The USA threatened Iran with "significant new sanctions" over the country's nuclear programme according to US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. 12 Dec 2009 - Annise Parker was elected Mayor of Houston, which became the largest United States city with an openly gay person elected mayor. 12 Dec 2009 - Golfer Tiger Woods announced he was taking an indefinite break from the sport after a scandal over his infidelity in order to focus on "being a better husband, father, and person". 13 Dec 2009 - Global consulting firm Accenture and multinational corporation Procter & Gamble ended their endorsement deals with golfer Tiger Woods following a marital infidelity controversy. 16 Dec 2009 - Roy E. Disney, head of Disney Animation and responsible for guiding the studio through a golden age of animation, died in a California hospital in the United States. 20 Dec 2009 - United States Army Major General Anthony Cucolo made pregnancy a court-martial offense for both female and male troops under his command in northern Iraq. 20 Dec 2009 - American band Rage Against the Machine top the UK Christmas Singles Chart with 1992 song "Killing in the Name". Its popularity arose from an internet campaign to prevent X Factor winner Joe McElderry from topping the charts. (CNN) 22 Dec 2009 - The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation released more than 300 pages of previously classified documents belonging to pop icon Michael Jackson who died earlier in the year. Psychology including social psychology, personality, mental disorders, behavior patterns, mind, developmental psychology, and behavioral elements can be connected. The human body including form and appearance, life cycle, disease, body functions, and body systems can be connected. Science Biology including biohistory, ecology, systematics, organism biology, cell biology, and molecular biology can be connected. 11 Dec 2009 - The discovery of the Triassic theropod dinosaur genus Tawa was announced. 14 Dec 2009 - Researchers reported that the Veined Octopus retrieves coconut shell halves to use as shelter, becoming the first invertebrates recorded to use tools. Earth Science including geohistory, physical geography, atmospheric science, hydrospheric science, and geology can be connected. 18 Dec 2009 - A large crater, dubbed the "Fried Egg" because of its shape, was discovered off the coast of The Azores in the Atlantic Ocean, prompting speculation that it may have been caused up to 17 million years ago by meteor impact. Astronomy including cosmology, galactic astronomy, stellar astronomy, and local astronomy can be considered. 19 Dec 2009 - Scientists announced the discovery of GJ 1214 b, an ocean planet orbiting a star in the Ophiuchus constellation. 19 Dec 2009 - NASA released the first ever photo of liquid outside of Earth, in the form of sunlight reflecting on a lake on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. 31 Dec 2009 - Both a blue moon and a lunar eclipse occurred. Chemistry can be connected. Physics can be connected.

Other history

This is weakly connected to earlier history through classical and medieval times. It is preceded by modern times through the 20th century. It is weakly connected to the early 2000s. It is weakly connected the late 2000s through 2008. It is somewhat connected to 2009 through the third quarter 2009. Within the fourth quarter 2009, it is immediately preceded by November 2009.

It is followed by events of 2010, including the first quarter 2010 and January 2010.

This is later followed by the future, specifically the near future including next month down to January 2010 and will be followed by next quarter and next year. It will be then followed by the middle future and far future.

Links to other sites
Note: Section beginning with Content is adapted from 2009- Wikipedia
More details are given in Dec 2009- Wikipedia

Sociology

As with history in general, modern history, the 20th century, the early 21st century, the late 2000s, 2009, and the fourth quarter 2009, the examination of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change gives weight and substance to events of December 2009.

Institutions

As with history in general, modern history, the 20th century, the early 21st century, the late 2000s, 2009, and the fourth quarter 2009, Religion, government, economics, education, and families are essential to the examination of events of December 2009.

Culture

Behavioral culture, conceptual culture, and material culture can be applied to the examination of events of December 2009.

Behavioral culture including occupations and customs can be connected.

1 Dec 2009 - U.S. golfer Tiger Woods announced that he would not be attending his own charity golf tournament, the Chevron World Challenge, or any other tournaments in 2009.

2 Dec 2009 - Cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs provided evidence to reporters that she had an affair with golf legend Tiger Woods

5 Dec 2009 - CNN issued an apology to The Irish Times after accusing the newspaper of publishing fake nude photographs of the world's number one golfer Tiger Woods. CNN also alleged The Irish Times had paid damages as a result.

8 Dec 2009 - For the second time in as many years, CBS canceled a United States-produced soap opera, this time As the World Turns after 54 years, in effect putting Procter & Gamble, the creators of said genre, out of that business.

8 Dec 2009 - Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo, the world's first commercial spacecraft, was officially unveiled in the Mojave Desert, California.

10 Dec 2009 - U.S. President Barack Obama accepted the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway.

12 Dec 2009 - Golfer Tiger Woods announced he was taking an indefinite break from the sport after a scandal over his infidelity in order to focus on "being a better husband, father, and person".

13 Dec 2009 - Global consulting firm Accenture and multinational corporation Procter & Gamble ended their endorsement deals with golfer Tiger Woods following a marital infidelity controversy.

16 Dec 2009 - Roy E. Disney, head of Disney Animation and responsible for guiding the studio through a golden age of animation, died in a California hospital in the United States.

19 Dec 2009 - The North American blizzard of 2009 produced record snowfall, causing power outages, deaths, and impacting retail sales.

20 Dec 2009 - American band Rage Against the Machine topped the UK Christmas Singles Chart with 1992 song "Killing in the Name". Its popularity arose from an internet campaign to prevent X Factor winner Joe McElderry from topping the charts. (CNN)

Cultural events including holidays, gatherings, disasters, and miscellanous events can be connected.

17 Dec 2009 - Europe was hit by heavy snowfall leading to disruptions in France, Germany, Poland and Spain.

21 Dec 2009 - Two firefighters were hurt fighting a fire as St. James's Gate Brewery was engulfed by flames which send clouds of smoke across Dublin.

25 Dec 2009 - The 19th century St Mel's Cathedral of Longford in Ireland was destroyed by an ongoing fire in the town.

18 Dec 2009 - The BBC apologised for offence caused when it used the headline: "Should homosexuals face execution?"

18 Dec 2009 - Snowfall across the east of England disrupted transport and power supplies.

19 Dec 2009 - Freezing conditions caused electrical faults in the Channel Tunnel between Great Britain and France, isolating 2,000 passengers in five trains. The situation was coupled with disruptions at London Heathrow Airport and traffic delays due to snowy conditions in the south-east of England.

20 Dec 2009 - Snowfall disrupted transport services and killed at least 18 people across Europe.

21 Dec 2009 - Eurostar was suspended indefinitely due to the heavy snowfall affecting continental Europe.

21 Dec 2009 - Mister Bolivia won Mister International 2009 at the end of the two-week event in Taiwan.

22 Dec 2009 - Eurostar finally resumed services after three days of continent-wide weather-related outages.

25 Dec 2009 - Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom remembered the dead soldiers of Afghanistan in the Royal Christmas Message.

25 Dec 2009 - Six Filipino sailors and three Greek officers are missing after fire engulfs a ship in an incident off the coast of Venezuela.

26 Dec 2009 - It was confirmed that all nine missing crew members — six Filipinos and three Greeks — from yesterday's ship fire disaster off the coast of Venezuela were dead.

28 Dec 2009 - One woman died and at least 18 people were injured after a bus overturned in Gorey, Ireland. An ambulance also overturned.

30 Dec 2009 - Two people were found dead following three separate avalanches in Scotland, while a third person who was rescued died later in hospital.

Recreation and entertainment including sports, games, theater, music, and dance can be connected.

2 Dec 2009 - FIFA, the world governing body for association football, announced after an emergency session of their Executive Committee, that following the controversy over the Thierry Henry handball incident, it would set up an inquiry into the use of extra officials or technology, but any changes will not be implemented for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

7 Dec 2009 - Pakistan’s Raffatullah Momand and Aamer Sajjad set a new world record for a second wicket partnership scoring 580 runs in a first-class Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match, breaking the previous record of 576 held by Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama.

7 Dec 2009 - The English town of Swindon became the first ever Twin Town of Walt Disney World in the U.S. state of Florida.

19 Dec 2009 - In association football, FC Barcelona set a new record by winning all 6 possible competitions (The Sextuple) in one year.

31 Dec 2009 - Van Morrison told RTÉ News at One that a baby his own website claimed he has fathered does not exist and that he has never met the alleged mother.

31 Dec 2009 - Patrick Stewart, the actor who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor X in X-Men, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Conceptal culture including philosophy, applied science, mathematics, literature, graphic arts, and language can be considered.

18 Dec 2009 - After 27 years, Terry Wogan presented his last edition of Wake Up to Wogan on BBC Radio 2, receiving farewell messages from Gordon Brown and David Cameron.

Material culture including miscellaneous artifacts, Communications technology, transportation technology, Clothing and dress, foodstuffs, building technology, and industrial technology can be connected.

8 Dec 2009 - Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo, the world's first commercial spacecraft, was officially unveiled in the Mojave Desert, California.

14 Dec 2009 - TeliaSonera opened the world's first 4G LTE cellular network for public in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden.

15 Dec 2009 - The Boeing 787 'Dreamliner' widebody passenger airliner took its maiden flight, travelling from Paine Field to Boeing Field, in Washington State, U.S.A.

18 Dec 2009 - General Motors announced that it would begin shutting down operations at the Swedish carmaker Saab automobile.

Anthropology

19 Dec 2009 - The North American blizzard of 2009 produced record snowfall, causing power outages, deaths, and impacting retail sales.

Particular groups can be considered. Human geography including Asian geography, European geography, African geography, North American geography, South american geography, and Oceanic geography can be connected. Human ecology including human effects on the environment, relations with other life, and environmental effects on people can be connected. Physical anthropology including human dispersion, racial variation, and human origins can be connected. Demography including population change, population size and structure, deaths, migration, and births can be connected. Social foundations including social group behavior, social group types, social control, social interaction, and social presentation can be connected.

Personal studies

Biography can be connected.

5 Dec 2009 - Six doctors in the United Kingdom were taking legal action to demand a formal inquest into the death of government scientist David Christopher Kelly.

6 Dec 2009 - Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom firmly warned newspaper editors in a letter to cease publication of personal pictures of the British Royal Family after years of being "hounded" by paparazzi.

25 Dec 2009 - Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom remembered the dead soldiers of Afghanistan in the Royal Christmas Message.

31 Dec 2009 - Patrick Stewart, the actor who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor X in X-Men, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

9 Dec 2009 - British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling delivered the pre Budget report, with tax rises and spending cuts to reduce the government debt.

13 Dec 2009 - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair stated in an interview that he would have gone to war in Iraq even if he had known that it had no weapons of mass destruction.

18 Dec 2009 - In a reversal of a previous decision, Sir John Chilcot insisted that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would give the majority of his evidence to The Iraq Inquiry in public.

13 Dec 2009 - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan to support British forces deployed as part of the International Security Assistance Force and to hold talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

18 Dec 2009 - After 27 years, Terry Wogan presented his last edition of Wake Up to Wogan on BBC Radio 2, receiving farewell messages from Gordon Brown and David Cameron.

31 Dec 2009 - The University of Cambridge successfully acquired a collection of Siegfried Sassoon's personal papers for £1.25 million, following a six-month fundraising campaign.

31 Dec 2009 - Patrick Stewart, the actor who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor X in X-Men, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

5 Dec 2009 - Irish Independent Member of Parliament Noel Grealish withdrew his support for the country's government over the issue of pay cuts in the public sector. The move reduced the administration of Taoiseach Brian Cowen to a minority government.

7 Dec 2009 - Bishop Dermot O'Mahony resigned as patron of The Irish Pilgrimage Trust after his response to child sexual abuse was described as "worse than that of any other living auxiliary bishop of Dublin".

9 Dec 2009 - Irish Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan delivered the nation's Budget for 2010.

17 Dec 2009 - Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray resigned following allegations contained within the Murphy Report. The Vatican accepted his resignation.

18 Dec 2009 - Irish priest Father Seán Sheehy withdrew from work in his parish of Castlegregory over a controversy which followed his shaking the hand of a convicted sex offender in court days earlier. Bishop of Kerry William Murphy disassociated himself from Sheehy and his actions.

20 Dec 2009 - Gerry Adams, in an interview with RTÉ, spoke for the first time about the abuse his father inflicted on his family.

22 Dec 2009 - It was revealed that the fugitive brother of Gerry Adams had been located in County Sligo after the politician appealed for him to make his whereabouts known.

23 Dec 2009 - Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Jim Moriarty resigned, the second bishop to do so following the publication of the Murphy Report.

25 Dec 2009 - Two more bishops — Eamonn Oliver Walsh and Raymond Field — resigned due to child sex abuse allegations contained within the Murphy Report. They were Dublin's only remaining two serving auxiliary bishops.

28 Dec 2009 - Ireland's most senior Cardinal, Cahal Daly, was reported to be "seriously ill" in hospital.

31 Dec 2009 - Former Catholic Primate of All Ireland Cardinal Cahal Daly, "the hierarchy's foremost theologian and its most trenchant critic of politically-inspired violence", died in Belfast aged 92.

31 Dec 2009 - Van Morrison told RTÉ News at One that a baby his own website claimed he has fathered does not exist and that he has never met the alleged mother.

7 Dec 2009 - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates admitted that the United States has had no information on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden for many years.

1 Dec 2009 - U.S. President Barack Obama announced that he would send 30,000 extra American troops to Afghanistan within the next six months and start withdrawal in 19 months.

1 Dec 2009 - U.S. golfer Tiger Woods announced that he would not be attending his own charity golf tournament, the Chevron World Challenge, or any other tournaments in 2009.

2 Dec 2009 - Cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs provided evidence to reporters that she had an affair with golf legend Tiger Woods

10 Dec 2009 - U.S. President Barack Obama accepted the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway.

11 Dec 2009 - The USA threatened Iran with "significant new sanctions" over the country's nuclear programme according to US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

12 Dec 2009 - Annise Parker was elected Mayor of Houston, which became the largest United States city with an openly gay person elected mayor.

12 Dec 2009 - Golfer Tiger Woods announced he was taking an indefinite break from the sport after a scandal over his infidelity in order to focus on "being a better husband, father, and person".

13 Dec 2009 - Global consulting firm Accenture and multinational corporation Procter & Gamble ended their endorsement deals with golfer Tiger Woods following a marital infidelity controversy.

16 Dec 2009 - Roy E. Disney, head of Disney Animation and responsible for guiding the studio through a golden age of animation, died in a California hospital in the United States.

20 Dec 2009 - United States Army Major General Anthony Cucolo made pregnancy a court-martial offense for both female and male troops under his command in northern Iraq.

20 Dec 2009 - American band Rage Against the Machine top the UK Christmas Singles Chart with 1992 song "Killing in the Name". Its popularity arose from an internet campaign to prevent X Factor winner Joe McElderry from topping the charts. (CNN)

22 Dec 2009 - The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation released more than 300 pages of previously classified documents belonging to pop icon Michael Jackson who died earlier in the year.

Psychology including social psychology, personality, mental disorders, behavior patterns, mind, developmental psychology, and behavioral elements can be connected.

The human body including form and appearance, life cycle, disease, body functions, and body systems can be connected.

Science

Biology including biohistory, ecology, systematics, organism biology, cell biology, and molecular biology can be connected.

11 Dec 2009 - The discovery of the Triassic theropod dinosaur genus Tawa was announced.

14 Dec 2009 - Researchers reported that the Veined Octopus retrieves coconut shell halves to use as shelter, becoming the first invertebrates recorded to use tools.

Earth Science including geohistory, physical geography, atmospheric science, hydrospheric science, and geology can be connected.

18 Dec 2009 - A large crater, dubbed the "Fried Egg" because of its shape, was discovered off the coast of The Azores in the Atlantic Ocean, prompting speculation that it may have been caused up to 17 million years ago by meteor impact.

Astronomy including cosmology, galactic astronomy, stellar astronomy, and local astronomy can be considered.

19 Dec 2009 - Scientists announced the discovery of GJ 1214 b, an ocean planet orbiting a star in the Ophiuchus constellation.

19 Dec 2009 - NASA released the first ever photo of liquid outside of Earth, in the form of sunlight reflecting on a lake on Saturn's largest moon, Titan.

31 Dec 2009 - Both a blue moon and a lunar eclipse occurred.

Chemistry can be connected. Physics can be connected.